Mercury Marine Repower Revolution announces March bonus for qualified borrowers: No payments for 90 days

FOND DU LAC, Wis. – Mercury Marine announced today that credit-worthy borrowers who purchase a qualifying engine through the Mercury Repower Financing Program are eligible to defer their first loan payment for 90 days.

The Mercury Repower Financing Program, launched in September 2014, offers repower engine financing to credit-worthy consumers.

This optional deferred-payment promotion runs concurrent to the existing Repower Revolution promotion, which launched Jan. 1 and runs through April 30, and offers a promotional financing rate of 4.99% APR* for qualified applicants. This low rate provides customers the option of choosing a payment that fits their budget and allows customers to get the engine they want today. Consumers who choose the Repower Revolution rebate instead of financing can receive a rebate of up to $1,625 per qualifying repower engine. Read more

Fishing

SAF Launches National Media Effort To Battle Obama Gun Control

BELLEVUE, WA – The Second Amendment Foundation yesterday launched a nationwide television and radio effort to prevent President Barack Obama from using executive action to erode the right to keep and bear arms, which is the embodiment of a current plan by his Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to ban ammunition for the most popular firearm in America today.

“Last week,” said SAF founder and Executive Vice President Alan Gottlieb, “our general counsel warned in a letter to the BATFE that if it goes ahead with its plan to ban the popular M855 ammunition for modern sport-utility rifles, we would take court action.

“Today,” he added, “we’re firing up American gun owners at the grassroots level to send a message that should be loud and clear: Keep your hands off our guns, ammunition and our right to keep and bear arms.” Read more

Firearms, Gun Control

MI DNR conservation officers rescue three who fell through ice on Belle Isle

Department of Natural Resources conservation officers rescued three people early Sunday evening after they fell through thin ice on the east end of Detroit’s Belle Isle.

At approximately 4:30 p.m., conservation officers were called to the scene after learning three individuals had fallen through the ice near the marble lighthouse on the east end of the island. Sgts. Ron Kimmerly and Todd Szyska, along with Conservation Officers Michael Feagan and Mike Drexler, responded to the area and split up to conduct foot and vehicle patrols in an attempt to locate the victims.

After getting out of the water, one of the women communicated via cell phone with dispatchers for approximately an hour and attempted to give their location. After searching the entire east end of the island, CO Drexler located the victims on the canal between the golf course and water plant. Sgt. Szyska coordinated with the Detroit Fire Department Ladder 6 and United States Coast Guard personnel as well as EMS MEDIC 12. The conservation officers scaled the fence and rushed to assist the other two victims, who had gotten out of the water and were sitting on the snowbank. The second woman had lost her shoes and coat in the ordeal and was starting to experience hypothermia when the officers arrived.

The officers administered first aid and wrapped the subjects in emergency blankets, jackets, hats and gloves. Sgt. Szyska responded with the Detroit Fire Department, U.S. Coast Guard, EMS and a Michigan State Police trooper and carried back boards out to the victims after the lock to the gate had been cut. The responders placed the victims on the back boards and carried them through the 2-foot-deep snow to the EMS vehicle. The victims were showing signs of hypothermia and going in and out of consciousness while being carried out. After the subjects had been placed in the ambulance, they refused to be transported to the hospital. Read more

General

Legacy Sports International Releases New Yote Camo Pattern

Gene Lumsden, CEO of Legacy Sports International, Inc. is pleased to announce the arrival of their new YOTE camo, exclusively available through Legacy Sports in the Escort line of semi-auto shotguns as well as Howa Ranchland rifles. Yote is short for coyote. The Yote camo pattern looks like coyote fur and was developed, in part, by champion coyote caller and host of Predator Quest TV, Les Johnson. Les endorses Yote and uses it exclusively on his Escort shotguns for the show.

This camo pattern works extremely well in the field, blending amazingly well with many types of backgrounds and cover. Available in Standard and Youth models in the Escort semi-auto shotgun line. The Standard Magnum model is offered in 12 gauge chambering, while the Youth model is available in 20 gauge. Read more

Firearms

Leica Expands Ultravid HD-PLUS Binoculars Lineup with New 50mm Models

Binoculars Lineup with New 50mm Models

Setting the new standard for premium optical performance, the innovative Leica Ultravid HD-PLUS 50 mm binoculars are ideal for hunters seeking unparalleled brightness, power and clarity in a compact design. Coupled with Leica’s new HD/HT lens and prism elements and coatings, the Ultravid HD-Plus can peer deep into the early dawn or late dusk with brighter images than ever before possible.

The new Ultravid HD-PLUS 8×50, 10×50 and 12×50 models are the most compact binoculars in their class. In fact, they’re even more compact than some competitive 42 models. Read more

Optics

Winning bid for Montana moose license is three times the last record

HELENA, Mont. – A rare Shiras moose hunting license brought in a record $60,000 at a Ducks Unlimited auction last weekend by the Helena DU chapter during its annual dinner. Past moose licenses sold at auction for $15,000 to $20,000. Proceeds from the license sale will go to the moose conservation initiatives of Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

“We are blown away by the success of this auction for Montana habitat work. It was basically over in three minutes,” said Steve Christian, an organizer of the event and member of Montana DU state councils. “Our thanks go out to the people who participated in this auction and to our buyer, who is making a major contribution to Montana wildlife.”

DU won the right to auction off the license from MFWP. The license is good for the 2015 season anywhere in the state where people can legally hunt moose. Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

PA Game Commission Releases Deer Harvest Estimates

Harvests decreased statewide in 2014-15, report shows.

The Pennsylvania Game Commission yesterday reported that, in the state’s 2014-15 seasons, hunters harvested an estimated 303,973 deer – a decrease of about 14 percent compared to the 2013-14 harvest of 352,920.

Hunters took 119,260 antlered deer in the 2014-15 seasons – a decrease of about 11 percent compared to the previous license year, when an estimated 134,280 bucks were taken. Also, hunters harvested an estimated 184,713 antlerless deer in 2014-15, which represents an about 16 percent decrease compared to the 218,640 antlerless deer taken in 2013-14.

“We put these numbers out each year and, whether there’s an increase or decrease in the harvest, people want to know why,” said Game Commission Executive Director R. Matthew Hough. “While it’s impossible to provide explanations with certainty, there were a couple of factors over the 2014-15 deer seasons that seem to have contributed to a decreased harvest.” Read more

Hunting, Wildlife

Obamas’ Vacations on Your Credit Card

The Washington Examiner has a story on the Obama vacations.

Golf vacation

2013, Feb. 16-18, President Obama flew to Palm Springs, Ca., for three days of golf.
2013, June 26–July 2, Michelle toured African nations with Sasha and Malia after meeting up with president.
2014, March 8-9, the president and first lady traveled to Key Largo, Fla., for a golfing vacation.
2015, Feb. 15-17, President Obama traveled again to Palm Springs for a boys weekend of golf.

How about the first lady taking exotic trips with just her and her children?

2010, August 4-8, Michelle Obama, daughter Sasha and an entourage travel to Spain. Judicial Watch pegged the cost at $467,000
2011, Feb. 19-21, Michelle, Sasha and Malia travel to Vail to ski and hit a restaurant that served pickled pumpkin salad and braised ancho-chile short rib.
2011, March 21-25, Obama, Michelle, Sasha and Malia, on spring break, on a working vacation to Latin America were the girls took in Rio’s Christ the Redeemer statue.
2012, Feb. 17-19, Michelle and her daughters traveled to Aspen to ski.
2013, Feb. 15-18, Michelle Obama and her two daughters ski in Aspen, Co.
2014, Feb. 14-17, Michelle Obama with daughters Sasha and Malia for a ski vacation in Aspen, Co.
2014, March 19-26, Michelle Obama, her mom and daughter Sasha and Malia spend a spring break in China.

General

Bird Conservation Group Calls for Changes in Data Collection at Wind Developments

Washington — American Bird Conservancy (ABC) has called on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to institute a new system of pre-construction risk assessment and bird and bat mortality data collection in connection with hundreds of thousands of bird (and bat) deaths being caused by wind turbines and the likelihood that that number could substantially exceed one million deaths when the industry reaches its full build out capacity by 2030 or before.

The ABC proposal was made in a letter to Department of Interior and FWS pursuant to their request for comments on information collection in connection with their land-based wind energy guidelines. It follows the entering of a guilty plea on January 6 from PacifiCorp that will require the company to pay $2.5 million in fines, restitution and community service for violating the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act by killing 38 Golden Eagles and 336 other birds at two Wyoming wind farms.

ABC is asking FWS to institute a pre-construction risk assessment and bird mortality data collection that are based on:

  • studies conducted by independent, qualified expertsselected by the FWS or a trusted consulting company hired by FWS;
  • costs being borne by wind energy companies;
  • all reports sent directly to the FWS, and not through the wind energy company, which would then have no opportunity to edit or alter the reports to their advantage;
  • reports being made available to the public to add an additional layer of scrutiny; and
  • mandatory requirement to conduct independent Environmental Assessments (EA) and obtain incidental take permits under the Endangered Species Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act when protected species are present. Read more
Wildlife

Washington Wolf Population Grew 30% Last Year

OLYMPIA – Washington state’s wolf population grew by more than 30 percent and formed four new packs last year, according to an annual survey conducted by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).

The survey shows the presence of at least 68 gray wolves in the state through Dec. 31, 2014, up from a minimum of 52 wolves counted in 2013. It also documents 16 wolf packs and at least five successful breeding pairs last year. Read more

Wildlife
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